Does Creative Freedom Exist?

What profession could be more exciting and rewarding?

But there are roadblocks. Because the photojournalist represents an investigative factor, he/she is not always welcomed - especially by political, social, military, and governmental elements that would rather not expose their own shortcomings.

So, a photojournalist finds themselves in a battle between their passion to tell the story and get it right, and the deterrents that would prevent them from "trespassing" into the subject’s domain.

There are also detours. A good photojournalist will be offered incentives that can entice them to give up their initial interest in photojournalism and turn their talents to more commercial areas for greater income and social status, areas like public relations, advertising photography, corporate assignments, etc.

Such temptations exist in all fields. A talented musician can be tempted to turn to producing elevator music; a talented composer to TV show themes; a talented writer to Hollywood screenplays; an established actor to performing in TV commercials.

The difference in pay scale can be attractive. In photojournalism, unless the photojournalist is well-known with many credits, remuneration for their work is not much higher than for basic labor positions (sometimes lower!).

PAY REDUCTION

Add to the financial challenges the fact that like any business, the publishing world is always trying to reduce expense. Often their first target is freelancers and staff photographers. An attempt is being made in Germany (Frankfurt) to reduce the employee classification of a photojournalist from editorial worker to clerical worker. If this move is successful, the pay scale of photographers would be lowered to be on a par with clerical workers, not editorial employees.

It would seem that organizing into a union of members would be the answer for the photographers. It isn't. Freelancers by their very nature are independent people and are resistant to 'organizing.' Creativity can't be organized. As an observer of freelancers over the years, I've seen attempts to unionize freelancers come along, sputter, and disappear.

A contemporary approach to organizing freelancers into a union is to hook up with an existing union as an affiliate. For example, affiliating with the United Automobile Workers (UAW) and through them with the AFL-CIO. If we were to classify freelancers as craftsmen, or clerical workers, I would agree this might be the answer. But could you imagine a poet or painter joining a union?

We all know that unions are a two-edged sword. Union membership might bring higher fees on one hand, but it also brings constraints and regulations regards type of work, and whom one can work for, as decreed by the union.

In just about every survey made of workers, not only freelancers, but everyday service personnel, the reward that workers consider most important is not salary but recognition of their contribution to their chosen career. For a person who has a passion for photojournalism, the carrot of higher pay is not going to outweigh the gratification and self-esteem the photographer realizes from her/his profession.

A SOLUTION

Do photojournalists need charity? Should they receive grants or subsidies like farmers? Again, I say no. It would only make them beholden to some government party line.

Is there an answer for this dilemma? Yes. And it's been played out for centuries.

Rohn Engh is director of PhotoSource International and publisher of PhotoStockNotes. Pine Lake Farm, 1910 35^th Road, Osceola, WI 54020 USA E-mail: info@photosource.com Fax: 1 715 248 7394

Web site: www.photosource.com